Brainwashed by the Westboro Baptist Church

VICE followed the story of the Westboro Baptist Church as families split and children were brainwashed into picketing funerals and bashing homosexuals.

During that time, VICE interviewed more than a dozen members of the reviled group, including some of the only members not related by blood, the Drains.

They welcomed the filmmakers into their homes and gave them access to 17 years of home video footage. In return, they produced an unbiased look into the lives of one of America's most despised organizations.

188 Comments / User Reviews

Steve Drain's daughter summed her father up perfectly: he is one of those men who are terrified of losing control so they end up controlling every aspect of their lives and of those around them. My own father was a slightly less far-gone version of him - and without the bible as a prop.

This documentary was interesting but superficial. It left out crucial details about Phelps' life, and jumped from his law practice to his protests. It didn't even mention how the ministry was started etc. It felt like it skipped an important topic. Interesting, nevertheless.

Wow I have heard about Westboro Baptist but wow they are insane. Thank you Vice for showing me how much hate these people have , and they also abandon their own children/family if they decide to leave the church. It makes me sick.

i wish people would stop using "God" as a way to hate others. God doesn't hate anyone he hates sin. these people are definitely people who can't think for themselves and read the bible themselves. where in the bible does it say that God hates homosexuals? and i wish the people who are commenting who are shaming the bible just because of a group of people would stop because these people don't represent all believers of God.

It is funny that you guys do not even know what you are talking about or pay allegiance too. Look up the old testament if you can? It clearly states that your god will put to death man that lay with man!

Funny religee's

Ricardo Mountabong
- 07/21/2015 at 07:12

I can't wait for the day when the world has progressed past believing in gods and magic. It's the 21st century for cryin out loud - when are people going to move beyond ancient ignorant beliefs? There are no gods floating around in the clouds wielding magic powers!! Gods were created to explain things that people didn't understand, but now we know and understand much of that which we didn't know. There's no reason to worship gods anymore!!!!

Josh Clements
- 12/20/2014 at 12:00

How can people actually study a book that is up to 3500 years old and worship its text. "Where is it in the bible...", "the bible says...", who actually cares, its a book, and its a fantasy story. It's make believe. Written by people that didn't understand the world, so made up stories to try and feel better about it.

How does one use the words hate and God in the same sentence?Also what about where it is said in the Bible that there is neither male nor female in the spiritual realm or in the Kingdom ? These folks are pitiful to believe in a God that is both vindictive and ugly and intent on fostering destructive and malicious behavior of so called christians. This documentary proves organized religion is sadly misleading the blind leading the blind.

I think the most disgusting and offensive part of this whole documentary is that Westboro's evil funeral picketing is protected by so called 'free speech'....Albert Snyder had to pay Westboro's legal costs? Fuck you America, you f--king vile country piece of shit

They are hateful, evil people, and the supposed authority of the Unholy Babble is just a convenient excuse for their disgusting behaviour to masquerade as virtue. And that is why every copy of the bible should be repurposed as toilet paper.

Right, and destroy all the guns because PEOPLE misuse them. It isn't objects that hurt people, PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE. And these people are some of the sickest idiots around.

Hux Leary McShulgin
- 09/23/2013 at 18:30

Fred Phelps is a perjuring wife-and-child beater with a previous drug addiction who started the ministry as a way to vent his rage. The anger is apparently contagious, since the other church members seem unhappy as well.

Bet his anus is so tight it could snap a pencil in half. Loosen up before you blow a gasket, old man.

Seems a group of opportunistic Satanists held a "pink mass" over the grave of Phuckface Phelps's poor dead mama recently, thereby, in their "religious worldview," making her "gay for all eternity". Before leaving, one even had a nice photograph made of his gnarly Satanist pecker laid on top of her tombstone.

Juvenile? Perhaps. But I say it couldn't have happened to a nicer, more deserving group of people.

Praying for someone to die?? Sorry but my God must be different than the god they serve because he hates no one! If someone does sin he says to hate the sin but love the sinner. Little do the Phelps know they are heading straight to hell themselves, hopefully they wake up and realize before it's too late.

Does anyone else think this old Grumpy man is Satan?? Anyone that spreads this much negativity on a daily basis have to be a follower of Satan! I was brought up to believe god is a loving god that wants us to focus on the good in every situation and learn from it (free willpower and all) not spread hate around..

Agreed, you have the right to practice, but you have no right to judge. I'm from Canada and I'm living down south in the bible belt, let me tell you religion causes more trouble than it does peace and joy. The bible thumpers who are judging everyone else don't take a second thought to think about how their harsh judgements might affect them. I am married to an Arabian man I know what its like to be judged religiously, I know what discrimination feels like to the max, and I know what racism feels like. Especially living down here. We have comments made openly, and looks strong enough to make anyone want to hide. The ironic part of it all we have experienced more discrimination and hate down here with all the "good Christians" more than back home; and anywhere else we have lived. It's just not right by any means. God mad us all different to teach us acceptance and love; not discrimination and hate.

They have to give 10% of their income to the church each year. They spend $200,000 a year on fights and travel to picket.

OregonagainstWBC
- 10/21/2013 at 12:34

They make most of their money working as lawyers, suing individuals who act out violently toward them, against entire towns and Police in some instances for not allowing the "freedom of speech" and right to "speak in a public forum". They aren't only lunatics but they are also scam artists. Playing on the fact people hate them and provoking them into breaking the law against them. Hence why all counterprotests now are non-violent and individuals no longer shout jeers as they are "verbal Assault". Disgusting people. I feel sorry for every one of them, especially the small children who don't even know any better. Like several of the children featured in "The Most Hated Family In America", when asked if they knew what the signs they were holding meant, they had no clue. One girl didn't even really know what the word Fag even stood for. This is child abuse and those children should be taken in by Child Protective Services.

Rant Over.

DigiWongaDude
- 12/19/2012 at 19:08

There is a great calamity. Everyone dies. Heaven is in chaos trying to sort everyone out. God divides the men from the women, and divides the men in to two groups - those you dominated over their women, and those who were dominated by their women.

To his horror, only one man stands in the group that dominated over his woman.

"How can this be?" exclaims God, and asks St. Peter to take the women away. "I created all of you in my likeness, yet only one solitary man here managed to dominate his wife. Please, come up here and explain to everyone how you did it."

A little shy, the man addressed them all saying, "My wife told me to stand there."

------

All the major religions are inherently radical, since what kind of 'heaven' would it be, knowing people you love are endlessly burning in agony? It doesn't get more straight forward than that. If you could hack that, then what does that say? 85% of the universe is completely missing from us, all we can account for is 15% or less. There is plenty of room for spiritualism, but these holy books are pure folly. Love and peace.

how can God hate someone? wasn't everything created by God? why would God create something that He hates? anyways ppl will always twist religion to gain their goals. take away religion some thing will happen with some other ideology. its not religion, its the people with political agendas. and there is always people with political agenda behind religious movements. you dont want to be gay? fine dont be, you think this will get you to heaven? cool. stop telling others what to believe, cuz that annoying. same for Muslims who always try to impose their theology on just about anyone. BlaseAttitude helps..

I suspect that in America we have more to fear from radical Christianity than from radical Islam.

Moderate Christians and Muslims should stand together to criticize these types of haters.

And the best response to the next Koran burning would be for American Christian clergy to read passages from the Koran - passages espousing shared values - during their next services.

One thing for sure, allowing these Westboro people to spew their hatred shows that we still value the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, i.e., free speech and religious freedom. I think we should be proud of that.

O.K. I'll phrase it as a question. What makes you think you know any more about what "authentic" Christianity is than anyone else?

Jeff Mullins
- 09/13/2012 at 07:40

Saying the WBC does not represent Christianity is not the same as saying I know more about the faith than anyone else. But I am a Christian, Eastern Orthodox, so I can say with 100% certainty that the WBC promotes hatred, not Christianity.

robertallen1
- 09/13/2012 at 07:44

And the Catholic Church doesn't? And yes, when you use the word "authentic" juxtaposed to Christianity, it means that you've set yourself up as a judge and that anyone who does not agree with you as to what Christianity represents is not a Christian.

Jeff Mullins
- 09/13/2012 at 07:50

The Catholic Church represents a perverted form of Christianity just as the does the WBC, all though not as extreme.

robertallen1
- 09/13/2012 at 07:52

That's what I mean. You've set yourself up as an arbiter between what is and is not Christian--and, quite frankly, what makes you regard yourself as qualified to do so?

Jeff Mullins
- 09/13/2012 at 07:59

I would think the fact that I'm a practicing Eastern Orthodox Chrisitian would at least allow me the right to state my opinion as to what I think Christianity is or is not, right?

I'm not sure what point you're trying to prove here...

robertallen1
- 09/13/2012 at 08:04

State away, but your opinion on what constitutes Christianity is as worthless as everyone else's. That's what I'm trying to prove.

You're the one who's asserting what is and is not "authentic" Christianity. Frankly, I have no idea and I'll bet I'm better versed in it than you. Now, let's see you first enunciate what you consider "authentic" Christianity and then back it up.

Jeff Mullins
- 09/13/2012 at 08:25

You're making no sense. You admit you have 'no idea' what Christianity is yet you say you're better versed in it than I?

So which is it?

robertallen1
- 09/13/2012 at 14:52

Unlike you, I don't claim to have any idea of what "authentic" Christianity is.

Warren
- 01/08/2013 at 09:57

Your religion doesn't give you a "right" to anything. You have a right to speak, a right to practice religion, but practicing religion doesn't give you "right" to JUDGE what you think your religion is.

sarah5775
- 07/15/2013 at 06:12

Actually, I think it does. He has a right to define what he thinks are the characteristics of a Christian. You have a right to disagree. No one can speak for everyone, but he has a right to his opinion.

Warren
- 01/08/2013 at 09:53

So, having sex with little kids is not as extreme as picketing funerals and holding signs? Your sense of morality is disgusting.

Warren
- 01/08/2013 at 09:51

Wrong and a horrible answer at that. You're not 100% certain about anything in religion. WBC promotes hatred FROM THE BIBLE. Written in the same scriptures you hold to be caring and loving. When something is written and can be construde into anything that fits the problem, it cannot be taken as fact. That is why you call your belief, "faith". It's also why you'll never fully understand reality and morality.

Ramus73
- 09/13/2012 at 05:30

American fundamentalists are one of the biggest dangers our society faces. Getting young children to hold messages of hate is disgusting and if disowning your own child is what god intends I'm glad I'm an atheist. These sub humans make me sick.

WOW. what creeps, I think they have a vitamin deficiency or something, these are very sick people. It must be a sad thing to live with such hate and righteous defenses in your life. Don't they realize that god is a myth made up by man when man wiped out the pagan religion to make the new found christianity the main controlling belief. I am sure they have not read the bible and put it's contradicting messages together with moral logic and new scientific discoveries that negate most of the stories in the bibles fairy tales. isn't there laws protecting children from the horrors of child abuse teaching them to hate so strongly in life, the lives of those poor kids is going to be horrible for them, forever outcasts

Exactly which God told them to behave like that? The focus on simply being human, must be lost in that neighborhood. Bring a book from the Bronze age into the future of man is like re-inventing the wheel every Sunday. One day reality will set in and the'll one day discover the realization there's no new news about this God on CNN News, NBC News , ABC News, BBC News, etc, Their sold on the preacher preaching of a God that only exists in the mind, and no where else. They make real humans look and act primatve, like stuck the dark ages, restricting and promoting no chance to evolve. An aweful infliction upon restricting man from advancing. If only pastors realize what actual harm their doing to humanity bringing hell here. The sharing of focus brings it.

Their preaching crap out of the old testament(Hebrew bible) and making fun of Jews. There is no mention of gays in the new testament and only a passing mention in the Hebrew bible. They don't know what they are. Publicity whores.

Crazy s***. They are mentally challenged. That poor soldiers family. I guess the devil is good to his own. That journalist wanted to be part of it before he went there, or he wouldn't bring his young impressionable children to that cauldron of hate.

Yes, but the process is part of the promotion. It's like the Church in Florida that wanted to burn some Korans. Medias don't talk about it, no one care. Every medias pick it up, there is riots everywhere in the Middle-East. All that because of some wackos in Florida? It's very easy to burn a Koran, can do it right here at home. Should I call CNN to tell them about my intentions? Will they broadcast it everywhere around the world so we get some "Death To Canada, the Mini-Satan" publicity.

The medias have created that Church, not Phil Phelps. They made it what it is.

But it worked, they wanted to censor him and that only made him more popular. You have similar things everywhere. In France, they had an antisemitic standup, he got sued in court, couldn't perform anywhere as a result. Guess what? He's more popular than ever!

That was tried here (US). The Supreme Court upheld his right to freedom of speech. He's still at least as unpopular as he ever was. Probably more so.

dewflirt
- 08/19/2012 at 13:08

Let's hope it works for the three girls in Russia, they deserve some publicity! Two years in jail for 'hooliganism motivated by religious hatred' after singing anti Putin songs in a cathedral. What has one to do with the other? Then to add insult to injury some guy from the church pops up to say that the sentence was a bit harsh, after all, 'god has punished them already by making them stupid' The church claims its little religious victory and rubs its hands smugly, Putin tries to sidestep condemnation for making political prisoners of them by accusing them of hate crimes. Fine example of synchronised backscratching.

Documentaries like that promote this Church... They play his game. There was 3 dozens docus about him, and the Church he represent was only his family and it grew as a result of this worldwide promotion. It's hilarious, but that guy got it right.

Now there's a thought. Maybe the correct response isn't to ignore him. Maybe we should be laughing at him for as Twain points out, "Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand."

KsDevil
- 08/18/2012 at 21:12

The only thing making the Phelps klan protests work is how easily people enable their publicity tactics. If everyone simply ignored them, they would simply go away.
The worst thing you can do to these people is keep them from their moment in the media.

Please, they are 100% correct on that. WBC feeds on the publicity the media gives them, the media feeds on the outrage the public feels when the media covers WBC. How can this be anything but painfully obvious?
They are little more than real life trolls like we see on the internet. How to get rid of them? Stop feeding them. Don't show up en masse at their next protest.

robertallen1
- 08/19/2012 at 00:34

This could also backfire. If it doesn't meet opposition, the WBC could feel that it is weak or virtually non-existent and become bolder.

OregonagainstWBC
- 10/21/2013 at 12:46

A "banished" child of Fred Phelps has come out and said they will never know the wrongs of their ways and that ignoring them would only make them feel as though they had won. He says the anti-violent, anti-hate, and comedic counter-protests are the best way to rid of them.

batvette
- 10/29/2013 at 14:07

Well I don't think anyone cares if they want to think they won or not.... what we want is for them to disappear from the social landscape- and IMO to do that you have to stop paying attention to them. Stop giving them TV coverage and putting a mike in their face.
They can believe they won... nobody would even know.

lakhotason
- 08/18/2012 at 15:24

What I find curious is that the same man who defended black students when no one else would turns around and persecutes homosexuals.

But look at it his way, you can't help the colour of your skin but gay is on purpose. Nasty, bitter old codger :/

batvette
- 08/19/2012 at 00:46

So he is saying people choose to be gay and can be influenced to have sex with another man if they want to. It's just a perverted lifestyle choice, right?
I disagree because the theory holds that there is some way I could be lead to someday look at some guy's hairy bubble butt and think "wow I just gotta have thaaaat!"
Not gonna happen. I think it's born or ingrained early. I think that those religious people who strongly condemn it as sinful and obsess over it are actually scared they might want to try it.
Organized religion has its good points and its bad points, it's just about at its worst when humans use it to wield power over, influence, or condemn other humans.
Any heaven Fred Phelps gets into is not any place I need to worry about getting into.
All that having been said Phelps' life would probably make a pretty funny movie from a "black comedy" POV. A larger than life, buffoonish jerk so full of hatred it's comical how far away from the concept of Christianity he'd become.

batvette
- 08/19/2012 at 00:55

Look into what the initials "D.N." meant in context to Phelps' pro bono civil rights cases. Phelps reportedly tricked his clients into including those letters themselves into their own witness testimonies in court. Just an inside joke he and a couple of relatives knew about, convinced them they had some latin legal jargon meaning.

I can't help but wonder if after he dies we'll find some similar hidden message behind the God Hates Fags thing. Like Fred was really gay and did the whole thing to embarrass the WBC faithful, having them look so silly and repulsive the public sympathized with gays, in the end helping them.

Hmm.

You heard it here first. :-)

lakhotason
- 08/19/2012 at 01:03

From watching this and a couple of other docs I really wonder if this isn't just a put-on. The man likes attention and from being a trial lawyer he understands the use of showmanship. I think that just maybe the old fart is having a laugh at our expense.

batvette
- 08/19/2012 at 02:37

I think it's bizarre how he's had a lot of people very scared of him. Apparently the Topeka chief of police had him arrested, Phelps sued for wrongful arrest and ended up with a judgement that took the chief's house. Phelps had all his children running around town selling candy from one of those companies that supplies fund raising sales, then didn't pay the bill, which was in the thousands, and the company sued Phelps. Phelps counter sued and won.
Phelps was a boxer when he was young, and went to the Kansas State Golden Glove championship and purportedly knocked his opponent out cold in the first round. Won his weight division.
He was addicted to alcohol and amphetamines for years and was physically abusive to his wife and kids, then kicked his habit cold turkey one weekend when he threw them all out of the house.
For years he was lauded for his civil rights work for blacks in Kansas,
his license to practice law was suspended however for filing frivolous lawsuits in federal courts.

lakhotason
- 08/19/2012 at 02:42

Sounds like the kind of lawyer you would want on your side in court! And in a fight!

OregonagainstWBC
- 10/21/2013 at 12:47

His son came out and said the only motivation behind this was publicity and money. He would often say racial slurs and speak about their damnation as a race behind closed doors and in private.

Drdocwilmot
- 08/18/2012 at 09:00

The Gay Agenda
1. Don't arrest us
2. Don't label us mentally ill
3. Let us get married
4. Let us adopt children
5. Let us eat chicken fillets
6.Change Oaklahoma to Oaklahomo

louis theroux have allready been here,.. can you not come up with things other much more prfessional have come up with before you ?? Jeeeesus

robertallen1
- 08/18/2012 at 14:57

So you feel that homosexuals should be arrested just for being homosexuals. So you feel that homosexuality is a mental illness. So you feel that you have the right to dictate in matters which are totally private.

How sad that folk are so alienated from their humanity - they're hating themselves really. It's a misnomer to describe such organisations as Christian - they worship a god of hate, something any child could tell you wasn't the message of Jesus.
It must be awful for decent Christian folk to hear these things.

I disagree that any child would tell the message of the bible is not hate. The problem is that the westboro church is applying the bible as written. They are still hypocrites because if they were really obeying the word of God, they'd be stoning people, staying away from menstruating women (sure are a lot of young girls in this church), dressing in natural clothing, and observing a myriad of other strange commands from the bible. Their crime is that they are cherry picking which atrocities they want to believe and enforce. I read a good book about a guy trying to live as the bible commands in today's world but it is all but impossible. Our laws forbid it - and rightly so.

robertallen1
- 08/30/2012 at 01:40

Also, the world was a completely different place when the bible was written.

....I absolutely agree on WBC's view on soldiers being sent to fight in other countries, this is the most despicable and brainwashing on young Americans who are pushed, (enticement ads and street corner enlisters) to enlist and then sent to war, and sent to their deaths!!! Only when the bullet rips through their jackets and rips apart their hearts is the time they realize it was all a HUGE mistake, but too late, you're gone!

Governments and big companies in liaison with governments are completely evil, people wake up, and governments are truly EVIL!!! We don't and have never needed a government; the people can get along fine without them, as quoted by the captured alien back in 1947 in Roswell, USA.....Alien: "We don't have governments like you do here; we have wise elders that make decisions." If it works well with them, it can work well here too!

And before you start throwing your well-known sarcasm, look up alien visitation here on earth, it's now overwhelming, here again, your governments have stabbed you in the back, they are well and truly deep into the ufo phenomena, it's the most important happening in human history, and you're not allowed to know about it! WAKEUP!!!!!!!!!!

You are an id**t, You are not brainwashed in the military, you as an individual have the right to not join the military, but understand what you are signing, if you join...
There is a statement in the contract you are signing that in the event of war you may be involved, hence you are joining the Military, not the Boy or Girl Scouts, and the Military fights wars..Always have always will.
Otherwise you wouldn't have the rights you presently have... Always remember, someone in the Military died so you can have the Rights you have now. Also, it is a completely voluntary military...Your choice, no-one forces you to join... So get off of your soap box.. As for your other BS, its just that BS, While i believe we are not alone in the universe please...

capdanks30
- 08/16/2012 at 22:12

IF I HEAR HOW WERE FIGHTING FOR FEEDOM ......ONE MORE TIME Grrrr

Were fighting for oil and resources.STOP pretending that we are the good guys and they are the bad guys.

OregonagainstWBC
- 10/21/2013 at 13:02

There are no "good guys" and "bad guys" ever. Just lose souls with different beliefs, hate, ignorant behavior, and/or greed that shadows their judgement. Nobody is inherently good or evil.

OhPin Yon8Ted
- 08/30/2012 at 01:49

Yes, someone in the military did die for us to have the rights we know now. But don't confuse them with the current military who exist entirely to prop up the rich in their quest for more resources, rebuilding jobs and other lucrative taxpayer contracts. There is no honour in killing people for resources and pretending it's about freedom. And to say it's a choice is absurd when most of these boys and girls have no jobs at home which can provide them a reasonable future. You will know it's a about real freedom when people are required to make real sacrifices; everyone - even those who remained at home.

OregonagainstWBC
- 10/21/2013 at 12:59

I am not so sure that brainwashing doesn't exist in the military. They use scholarships and offers of $$$ for serving which is targeted toward poorer individuals who do not have many other forms of opportunity. Once into the military, officers preach "Do not fight for the cause of the war but fight for your brothers in the trenches with you", this teaches soldiers that even if they don't believe in killing for profit that they should anyway or else their brothers will die. I don't dislike the military as most of my friends who have served did so to preserve the lifestyles and freedoms we as Americans believe we deserve and to protect us, but they do have some shady policies and tendencies to trick people who aren't necessarily convinced that they are joining to "protect America".

Truth Axiom
- 08/16/2012 at 20:48

The only truths to that are this:
-Plutocracies do not represent the populations they govern and instead represent the extremely wealthy.
-Killing poor people over natural resources is immoral no matter how much you like your SUV.

The Universe is a big place, so life outside the Earth is extremely probably good, but if they haven't gone to the trouble of introducing themselves then there isn't overwhelming evidence that aliens have visited us, just some stories made up by people.

As far as brainwashing goes, it's only necessary to brainwash someone if they have to change who the **** they are to fold a shirt into a 6 inch square. You don't know war and brainwashing only works on the st*pid.

We still need government, what we don't need is for profit banking and insurance or privatized public services of any kind. Physical products that can be competitively innovated should be allowed to grow in a free market.

Anwyn009
- 08/16/2012 at 07:05

What a bunch of sick, narrow-minded, pitiful people! Life is about love and seeking commonalities; not perpetuating discord and hate. I'm actually really unimpressed with the stance these people have chosen to take. Shame. Shame. Shame.

How this could be good publicity is beyond me. I cant imagine anyone going ''oh yes, thats the life for me''. They would have to be a sandwich short of a picnic. Unfortunatley unless they are all neutered its only going to grow.

OMG... Seriously!!...Did people contribute to this thinking they were providing good PR for WBC?? .. O..M..G.. !!!

Irene Duckett Racicot
- 08/16/2012 at 22:55

Lorna: Unfortunately, neutering wouldn't help. It's a disease born of the mind and perpetuated on other weaker minds. To grow an "organization" such as this, all they need is what sounds like something close enough to the truth to do their own brainwashing". I've never understood extremist cults like this (no matter the religious identity they claim) and never will. When did it become their right to judge? I thought that was God's gig...at least it says so in the Bible! Just sayin'!

Lorna Kennedy
- 08/17/2012 at 02:10

I wonder if they donated their brains to science (thats surely a sin too)would you see a patern in them all, that none of them were the full shilling. I,m sure my brain works in a completely different way. My left eyelid twitches with the mention of gods name and i can speak an archaic form of latin when a believer enters the room. Or is that just the wine.

robertallen1
- 08/17/2012 at 02:26

"The full shilling." I like that--six pence, one farthing.

nebra
- 08/15/2012 at 16:25

i cant believe how stupid we people still are...i cannot even explain...and i can belive that this religious thing is still going on after 2k years. people really are brainwashed.

Lots of truth in these 2 videos, because the media has been instrumental in the breakdown of the moral fiber in Americans. Why would anyone volunteer to kill others if they really had moral values. And the best way to accomplish this is the breakdown of the base family unit. And the media has been the main weapon for this. The Vile nature of Hollywood and the music industry is living proof of what I'm saying. Turn off your TV, quit watching movies and listening to main stream music. And see just how quickly America families are brought back together and see the moral fiber of Americans return. These folks who made this video are another cog in the wheel that is destroying America.

I am also a dirty unwashed sinner! I grew more than one type of crop in a field, but yeah, that was back in the 70's, who didn't right? :) And the clothes! Heaven forbid, the clothes we wore! They were not even in the same solar system, never mind the makeup of the fabric being different. I must now go and take a layer off my skin with a sandblaster to clean myself!

Pathetic, these idiots don't desirve to call the Christian God their God. Nothing pisses me off more when ignorant closed minded fools like this exploit the erroneous teaching of the old testament.

Jesus said in: Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)

"30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these."

Those are the verses that always go through my mind every time I am confronted with these WBC people and it really does just let my anger at them melt away and pity them as a confused family led on a hateful crusade by a pissed off old man who just happens to be their father/grandfather.

Jake de la C.
- 08/13/2012 at 19:02

That Steve Drains is one of those typical eyes block shut ignorant boobs that actually never really read the bible from cover to cover. Everything he said made me twitch whether it is about his daughter (the one that broke free from her daddy's ignorant rant), she is obviously smarter than he'll ever be for forseeing the subterfuge that this church and its hateful philosophy was doing to her. From what I know about sexuality is that it doesn't matter the amount of indoctrination one person gets, if they are to be gay they will be gay and no anti-gay religious fundamentalists will ever change that with their stupid signs proning that gods hates gay.

Well they might as well bring pickets that claim that god also hates women, because that is pretty well verifiable in many chapters of bible; in particular those few rules:

- 1Cor.14:34-35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

- 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

- Women should be subjugated by their husbands (1 Pet. 3:1-7).

Odin :)

- "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet." (1 Timothy 2:12)

- "Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22)

- "How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?" Revelation 14:4

Rules or restrictions of homosexuality is mentionned far less than rules pertaining to women in the bible. Yet I see that Phelps matriarch openly voice her opinion when in fact she should shut the hell up and let the men do the talking (as it is indicated in her holy book that they follow so blindly).

In fact to quotes someone's else comment; this group of delusional ignorants have shown how much hates god must have, anyone with a rightful brain can see that there was none of their messages with something else hates, hell, fag (very pejorative), gays.

Isn't there is in the bible a chapter that would say "Mind you're own business" :)

hmm, I couldn't help but detect a note of Manson Mumbo Jumbo Dribble in their teachings and their defence is big flashy words strung together with no substance! I should of counted all the hipocritcal statements that they made but meh who can be bothered with their hatred, its draining... Brings to mind the old statement "reap what you sow"

I'm surprised no one has levied any child endangerment suits against these people. With the constant stream of death-threats they get, it would seem detrimental to the mental health of their children and cause an unnecessary amount of anxiety which could lead to more serious issues.

Child Endangerment laws make it a crime to endanger the health or life of a child through an adult's recklessness or indifference.

Any person who curseth his mother or father, must be killed. (Leviticus 20:9) Have you ever done that?

If a man cheats on his wife, or vise versa, both the man and the woman must die. (Leviticus 20:10).

If a man sleeps with his father's wife... both him and his father's wife is to be put to death. (Leviticus 20:11)

If a man sleeps with his wife and her mother they are all to be burnt to death. (Leviticus 20:14)

If a man or woman has sex with an animal, both human and animal must be killed. (Leviticus 20:15-16). I guess you should kill the animal since they were willing participants. Are they crazy?

If a man has sex with a woman on her period, they are both to be "cut off from their people" (Leviticus 20:18)

Psychics, wizards, and so on are to be stoned to death. (Leviticus 20:27)

If a priest's daughter is a whore, she is to be burnt at the stake. (Leviticus 21:9)

People who have flat noses, or is blind or lame, cannot go to an altar of God (Leviticus 21:17-18)

Anyone who curses or blasphemes God, should be stoned to death by the community. (Leviticus 24:14-16)

i saw MANY things that these people do that the bible considers just as bad as homosexuality.

my personal favourite:
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing. (1 Timothy 2:11-15)

Well I'm no expert but I'd have to go with venial, unless your metaphors involved either cows or crops. Then you going to hell, sorry :)

slpsa
- 08/13/2012 at 16:52

This is why they make thick rope, and have big trees to toss them over. I swear, all of these adults, need a jail cell, and big bad Bubba as a cellmate. Or better yet, to be removed from breathing the same air as the rest of us. Disgusting. Just absolutely, over the top and yes, it is child abuse. Those children, should have been taken out of the homes of these wackjobs, and placed in proper, nurturing, caring homes with people who are not psychotic and do not believe in sky fairies. These poor kids do not have a choice, their sick parents certainly do. I almost get physically angry, as a parent and grandparent, to see this gross abuse and negligence p0ut on these kids. I would also like a few minutes alone, in a room, with these men. Any of them.

robertallen1
- 08/13/2012 at 17:00

Haven't heard from you for some time. I agree with you, but the same can be said for every "fundamentalist" sect, Warren Jeffs included. When I look at Kurt Wise and Stephen Meyer, I begin to wonder if fundamentalist religion altogether isn't a form of child abuse.

How's the math going?

slpsa
- 08/13/2012 at 17:17

I just came home from Russia actually. I was working at a mine, I can only describe as, a nightmare at best. Outdated. At least the vodka worked well. Not much else though. That being said, yes, I agree, it seems to me all forms of fundamentalist religion are indeed, what people could construe as, child abuse. Disgusting behavior. No debate about that at all.

robertallen1
- 08/13/2012 at 17:27

So along with your other accomplishments, you speak Russian.

I would like to be clear on one thing: While I despise fundamentalist religion as much as you do, I find theistic evolution to be at least viable (although I don't subscribe to it) and have nothing but respect for Biblical scholars such as Bart Ehrman.

dewflirt
- 08/13/2012 at 22:13

I'm beginning to think you ARE Bart Ehrman ! ;)

robertallen1
- 08/13/2012 at 22:34

No such luck.

slpsa
- 08/13/2012 at 22:43

Haha, touche, I was thinking the same thing. Nice one!

slpsa
- 08/13/2012 at 22:32

Oh dear, no. They pay for a translator, but the truth is, the guys I was dealing with, all spoke passable English, they were all engineers, so most have English skills, regardless, you pretty much have to. They paid my translator for nothing, but he enjoyed my company, I spent a few days with his family, it was very cool. Nice to be back on Canadian terra firma though, got two weeks off, I'm catching up on all the docs and news etc. You do not hear much up in Siberia...lol.

robertallen1
- 08/13/2012 at 22:36

Do you know the song Siberia from "Silk Stockings?"

oQ
- 08/13/2012 at 18:58

I have noticed that often times those who were raised or participated in very religious thoughts and research end up being the most against religion. So nothing is lost yet for some of them. They are getting the best exemple of what is extreme with religion.
What would you do with a few minutes alone with these men?
1i

slpsa
- 08/13/2012 at 22:39

Teach them old fashioned respect. The details, I do not see the point of typing the words. I am a country boy, and that is all that is required as far as an explanation. We have a way of dealing with people who have no respect for others. How to treat females, how to raise children, how to nurture, grow, and love your family, properly. This is not the way, this doc, or anything close to sanity. You caught I was against religion. Excellent. I was one of those type you spoke of. I have more than an axe to grind with religion, but humans are the problem, not a book out there that makes anyone do anything they do not choose to do. Sometimes, the only way to confront ignorance, racism and outright stupidity, is with your boot, firmly planted up someones behind. I am sure you understand.

robertallen1
- 08/13/2012 at 22:43

I certainly do. However, with all the defections and lack of new blood, I wonder if this group won't soon die out--Fred Phelps is hardly a spring chicken (of course, another make take its place).

oQ
- 08/14/2012 at 02:28

What if you came to a group in Guinea (for exemple) who were equaly religious but in a totally different kind of way? A way not accepted in our present western society? Would you give them the boot too?
1i

DigiWongaDude
- 12/19/2012 at 18:35

@ Epicurus: I was dreading there was going to be something about internet porn...checked again...nothing there. :-D

I really like this doc. Vice did a better job than the drug dealer documentary I saw recently. It opened my eyes to how hate is like an infectious disease. I really feel bad for the children of this group because you know they are going to grow up just like those animals. I think a lot of those people are too far gone in their radical beliefs that there is no hope for them to wake-up. I would not be surprised at all if someone took them all out. I hate to say it, but I really wouldn't feel that badly either. The world needs less hate.

"The world needs less hate. ", said Wayne just after he suggested we kill the whole lot- (LOL). Just kidding around Wayne, I actually feel the same way it just seems odd to combine these sentiments in the same breath, so to speak. Kind of like these hunters that say they are thinning the numbers of the herd so they don't starve, so you see they have to kill animals so they don't die- huh? I mean realistically it makes sense, too many deer and the poulation will crash but it feels odd, something is not quite right about the sentiment, I can't put my finger on it though. Just goes to show how contradictive and confusing the world we have created can get I suppose. Anyway- DEATH to the Westboro Baptsit church, kill them all!!! Peace yall.

Any organization, system, or unity, and etc, for it to establish, it must have people who support it.
It is either desperate adults, or innocent children who are readily be modeled into given subordinates they purposely become.
Yes, it is the people who support their system hence bring it into existence and becomes reality; just they each are not allowed to know it!

Like armies in wars, they have desperate lives, and not gotten to know that it is them who made wars into existence, and that they are not allowed to know that if they stop fighting each other, there virtually exist no war!

If the people have been allowed to understand that they actually are God themselves, then how have churches even established!?

8 counts of perjury, trying to get people he never met or spoke with to false testify against a woman in a court of law, and this guy claims to have read the Bible? Look at all those sad, brainwashed victims of Phelps.